If you are searching the internet looking for commentary about autism by someone who has has real experience with the subject matter on which to base her insights I would recommend you read Autism, Empathy and Martin Luther King, Jr. by Lin Wessels. Lin takes a shot at some of the many autism myths perpetuated in the media and provides some parental perspective on several common autism myths including the empathy myth which she refutes with her own experiences with her son:
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The moment I stepped foot in the room, I knew something was wrong. There he stood; such a sad, long face with tears ready to flow at any given moment. All I need do was ask him what was wrong and flow they did. He not only cried; he sobbed. Big, heartfelt sobs ensued. As is common in autism, his communication is somewhat lacking, let alone the sobbing. We were finally able to piece it together; the second graders had watched, “My Friend Martin,” and he died. My son was heartbroken that anyone would treat others so poorly. He was further saddened that someone evil would dare to kill such a fine person as Martin Luther King, Jr. He was sincerely grief stricken.
I immediately recalled a time when he was but a toddler, not able yet to speak. We didn’t yet know he had autism. Perhaps, he’d not yet been stricken by it. He was watching Shrek. As the Gingerbread Man’s leg was being broken at the order of Lord Farkwad, our sensitive Sam wept. My son does now and has always boasted empathy.
Regardless of what the alleged experts say I accept completely Lin Wessel's evidence, based on direct observation, based on her experience with her child. I have seen empathy in Conor although I can not point to any incidents as dramatic as Ms Wessel has done. Read her comments at AutismOne if you want to gain some autism insights from some one with actual experience with autism ... from a caring parent.
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